Willoughby SHORTLAND
National Archives Wellington
Partial transcript: ORDER IA 1 1840/250
see Register Room


1840 Jun 20	Port Nicholson: "Reporting arrival there."


"Sir, I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that I have 
arrived at this Port on the evening of Tuesday the 2nd of June.  
I immediately sent Mr COLE on shore with the Proclamations and a 
letter to Colonel WAKEFIELD informing him that it was my 
intention to land to read them next day, but I was prevented by a 
heavy gale, from landing until Thursday afternoon previous to 
which I was waited on by Dr EVANS, Mr CHAFFERS and Mr TOD who 
informed me that the settlers were highly delighted at my 
arrival, they assured me that they had been greatly 
misrepresented. Doctor EVANS stated that the Council had been 
formed to keep the peace and for mutual protection until the 
arrival of Your Excellency or any person appointed by you.

I told him that I was disposed to view their proceedings in that 
light provided the Council vanished and that the Flags were 
immediately hauled down but any proposal upon any body of Persons 
assuming any power or Rights I should consider hostile.

He assured me of the loyalty of the Emigrants and that my wishes 
should be complied with. I landed at 2 o'clock accompanied by 
Lieut. SMART and BEST attended by the Mounted Police we were 
received by Colonel WAKEFIELD, Doctor EVANS, Captain SMITH R.A. 
and all the principal Emigrants, the Proclamations were responded 
to by three hearty cheers and a Royal Salute from the Europeans 
and with a War Dance and a general discharge of musketry by the 
Natives who has assembled in great numbers.  I was again assured 
of the Loyalty of all the settlers and that they were actuated in 
their proceeding solely with a view to preserve the Peace and to 
protect their property.  I have great pleasure in informing Your 
Excellency that Her Majesty's Government is fully established and 
that both the Europeans and Native Population are in a 
satisfactory state."